Alarm holder for fishing rods

ABSTRACT

An arm extending upwardly at an acute angle from the end wall of a tackle box has pivoted on it, with slight frictional engagement, a bar which extends on both sides of the pivot. The hinged top of the box carries at its end remote from the arm a clamp for holding the butt of the rod. The bar normally occupies a position at a slight angle to the angle of the support, and at its upper end has a fork which is adapted to engage the stem of a fishing rod. Opposite the lower end of the bar, and carried by the support, is a microswitch or the like which when pressed closes an electrical circuit. Closing of the electrical circuit, which occurs when a fish has hooked onto the line, rings a bell and simultaneously lights a light.

United States Patent Federline [451 June 20, 1972 Don Eugene Webb,Thurmont, Md. a part interest [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1970 [21] App1.No.:86,157

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Primary ExaminerSamuel Koren Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. LeachAttorney.lennings Bailey, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An arm extending upwardly at an acute angle from the endwall of a tackle box has pivoted on it, with slight frictionalengagement, a bar which extends on both sides of the pivot. The hingedtop of the box carries at its end remote from the arm a clamp forholding the butt of the rod. The bar normally occupies a position at aslight angle to, the angle of the support, and at its upper end has afork which is adapted to engage the stem of a fishing rod. Opposite thelower end of the bar, and carried by the support, is a microswitch orthe like which when pressed closes an electrical circuit. Closing of theelectrical circuit, which occurs when a fish has hooked onto the line,rings a bell and simultaneously lights alight.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJux 20 m2 3 670 443 Mme-2y INVENTOR.

R/(HARD FEDERA/NE ALARM HOLDER FOR FISHING RODS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an alarmholder for fishing rods for telling when a fish is hooked on a line.

2. The Prior Art US. Pat. No. 3,389,489 to Burns shows a fishing rodalarm accessory mounted on a tackle box. This, however, involves arather complicated structure, which relies on the tension of the fishingline to operate the alarm.

US. Pat. No. 2,816,388 to Hartley shows a fishing rod support which isspring supported, and which actuates a signal. This is equally true ofthe structure shown in the Bauer Pat. No. 2,540,088 and in the JohnsonPat. No. 3,010,239.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the fishingrod is held between a clamp mounted on one end of the hinged top of afishing tackle box and a fork which is mounted at the end of an alarmpivoted on a supporting member extending upward at an acute angle fromthe end wall of the tackle box. This arm extends on both sides of itspivot where it is normally frictionally held. The lower end cooperateswith a microswitch which rings a bell and also lights a lamp when a fishtakes the bait.

Such an arrangement avoids the use of springs, and likewise provides amore responsive system than those of the prior art, in addition to whichthe structure is extremely simple and inexpensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in side elevation a fishing alarm system embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fork at the free end of the pivoted member;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the clamp for the handle of the fishing rod;

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram;

FIG. 5 shows in side elevation another feature of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a fishing rod 2 is adapted to engage in aclamp 4 mounted on the hinged top section of a fishing tackle box 14.The stem of the rod is adapted to rest in a fork 6 carried in a rod 8pivoted at 10 on a member 12 upstanding at an acute angle from the endwall of the tackle box 14 remote from the clamp 4. The joint 10 is africtional joint in the nature of a wing nut which offers frictionalresistance to the turning of bar 8 around its pivot.

Mounted on the support member 12 near the lower end of the bar 9 is amicroswitch or other suitable switch 16.

FIG. 4 shows that the switch 16 is mounted in series with a source ofcurrent and with a bell 18 and lights 20 and 24. There is also a switch26 in the circuit, which, when in the position shown in solid lines,connects the bell 18 and the lights 20 and 24 to a battery 22 uponclosing of the switch 16. Thus, when a fish takes the bait and pulls ona line on a rod 2, it will cause the bar 8 to swing counterclockwise andactuate switch 16, whereupon the lights 20 and 24 will light and thebell 18 will sound. By switching switch 26 to the position shown inbroken lines, the light 24 inside the box on a flexible cord 28 and alsothe light 20 will be energized, so that it is possible to use thearrangement for illumination, without ringing the bell l8, and, at thesame time, the light 24 can be moved to various positions to illuminatethe interior of the tackle box to enable the fisherman to locate hooks,sinkers or other needed equipment.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish itto be understood that I do not intend to limit myself except within thescope of the claims hereto or hereinafter attached.

I Claim: 1. A fishing rod alarm device comprising a tackle box having ahinged top, means at one end of the top for holding the butt of afishing rod, a support member extending upwardly at an acute angle fromthe body of the other end of the box, a member pivoted on said supportand extending a substantial distance on each side of the pivot point,means on the upper end of said pivoted member for receiving the stem ofa fishing rod, a switch member mounted on said support at a substantialdistance below the pivot and in the path of movement of the lower end ofsaid pivoted member, a source of current, an alarm means connected tosaid switch and to said source of current and actuated by closing ofsaid switch.

2. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said alarm means comprising a belland a lamp, and means independent of said switch for selectivelyconnecting said lamp directly to said source of current and bypassingsaid bell.

3. In a device as claimed in claim 2, a second lamp, a flexible cordwithin the box to which said second lamp is com nected, said switch alsoconnecting said second lamp to the source of current.

4. In a device as claimed in claim 3, said selective connecting meansalso connecting said second lamp to the source of current.

5. In a device as claimed in claim I, a second lamp, a flexible cordwithin the box to which said second lamp is connected, said switch alsoconnecting said second lamp to the source of current.

1. A fishing rod alarm device comprising a tackle box having a hingedtop, means at one end of the top for holding the butt of a fishing rod,a support member extending upwardly at an acute angle from the body ofthe other end of the box, a member pivoted on said support and extendinga substantial distance on each side of the pivot point, means on theupper end of said pivoted member for receiving the stem of a fishingrod, a switch member mounted on said support at a substantial distancebelow the pivot and in the path of movement of the lower end of saidpivoted member, a source of current, an alarm means connected to saidswitch and to said source of current and actuated by closing of saidswitch.
 2. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said alarm meanscomprising a bell and a lamp, and means independent of said switch forselectively connecting said lamp directly to said source of current andbypassing said bell.
 3. In a device as claimed in claim 2, a secondlamp, a flexible cord within the box to which said second lamp isconnected, said switch also connecting said second lamp to the source ofcurrent.
 4. In a device as claimed in claim 3, said selective connectingmeans also connecting said second lamp to the source of current.
 5. In adevice as claimed in claim 1, a second lamp, a flexible cord within thebox to which said second lamp is connected, said switch also connectingsaid second lamp to the source of current.